Removing paint from gun metal

[Tgallen]

I bought a gun, with a black composite stock, that the metal had been spray painted (a bad homemade camo job). How can I easily remove the paint? I can take off the stock and soak the metal, but what solvent do I soak it in, and can I use a plastic tub? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I will repaint the metal a textured black if the metal is bad.

Thanks,

[DWB]

I think it would depend on the kind of paint they used. If it is a simple spray job, for the metal surfaces, soak it in a mineral spirits, acetone, kerosene mixture to soften it up some then you might have to brush it with a stiff nylon brush to get it off the machine mill marks (if there are any), or possibly a cotton shop cloth to just wipe it off. For the composite stock, if there is paint to be removed from that, mineral spirits and kerosene (without the acetone) might do the trick.

If it is a baked painted finish, this may not work so well.

Hopefully, some others will chime in with some ideas for you also. In other words, don't necessarily take my word for what will work well. What make of rifle is it?

[Eli Chaps]

I think if you try to dissolve that paint you're gonna have a mess and one that can run into all kinds of nooks and crannies.

If it were me, I'd take it to a smith or heck, just about fab or metal finishing shop and have it bead blasted. From there you could cold blue it or Dura Coat or what have you.

[Capt Rick Hiott]

Take the gun apart and soak the metal painted parts in lacquer thinner. (Don't use a plastic tub for this, use metal container). Wear gloves, safety glasses, and work outside. If they used "rattle can" enamel, it will come right off.
If they used epoxy paint, you will need a aircraft stripper. (Be careful,,this stuff is nasty! Read the directions)

[lesismore]

Is it a stainless or regular carbon steel gun metal ?

Either way try some lacquer thinner or enamel thinner with a cotton rag to see which one works best on a spot under the stock, either one should soften and remove the paint if it is a cheap paint, if not and it is stainless some large red scotch brite pads can be very good at removing paint using them like a shoe shine rag and it will give it a factory brushed finish. It depends on what kind of paint was used on the steel. If it is carbon steel then it will need a bluing job any way.

For the composite stock, remove and take off the butt pad and any other removable items and clean with warm soapy water and rinse and dry, DON"T USE ANY TYPE OF THINNER, MINERAL SPIRITS, OR SOLVENTS ON THE COMPOSITE OR PLASTIC STOCK!!! it could ruin the stock, then get a can of flat black Krylon Fusion paint for plastic, several colors to pick from. Fusion paint works great on plastics and composites. Then after it dries put on a coat of satin poly clear coat to keep it from fading. I have fixed some composite stocks like that and after several years they still look great. You can also get other colors if you want to mimic wood or some other theme. Pink for a female, red, white and blue for the patriotic. The choices are limitless. Just use your imagination.

[Capt Rick Hiott]

Red scotch brite pads will scratch the surface of any metal! I used them for over 20 years.

Just use a rag with Lacquer thinner.....................It wont scratch the surface.

He said,,,,"that the metal had been spray painted" not the composite stock.................

"BUT" If you sand the composite stock and paint it, use a gray scotch brite pad with hot water and a soap like Dawn. Don't use a red one, they are to coarse for plastic.
If its bare un-painted plastic, you will need a plastic primer first before you use a good quality paint like a urethane sprayed through a spray gun. You can buy the primer in a rattle can from a Sherwin Williams auto paint store.

( I was a certifed DuPont/Sherwin Williams/PPG auto painter for over 25 years)

[Tgallen]

Thanks for the ideas. The composite stock is unpainted, so I will leave it alone. Just the metal is spray painted, and I think I will try to use a bio-degradable graffiti remover. If it doesn't work, then acetone.

I'll post the results, and a picture if I can. The gun is a NEF (owned by Marlin) 20ga Pardner Pump.

Thanks.

[Tgallen]

On further thought, and reading the replies, I'll use laquer thinner instead of acetone. I suspect it's rattle can spray paint.

Thanks again.